Managing neuropathy

Neuropathy can be worrying and painful. If your neuropathy is causing you concern you should ensure you discuss this with your clinical team such as your specialist or specialist nurse. Your GP may also be able to provide some support, although they may require guidance from your specialist to ensure any medicine prescribed is safe and appropriate for you.

Managing neuropathy

Neuropathy can be worrying and painful. If your neuropathy is causing you concern you should ensure you discuss this with your clinical team such as your specialist or specialist nurse. Your GP may also be able to provide some support, although they may require guidance from your specialist to ensure any medicine prescribed is safe and appropriate for you.

Treatment of peripheral neuropathy symptoms

There are some medications that may help to alleviate neuropathic pain, with examples including gabapentin, pregabalin and duloxetine. However, you should always check with your clinical team before taking any of these medicines and do so only if prescribed them.

Medical staff can also give advice regarding appropriate foot care and footwear which can ease pain. This is important in order to prevent ulcers at pressure points and to protect areas of the foot that lack sensation.

Treatment of peripheral neuropathy symptoms

There are some medications that may help to alleviate neuropathic pain, with examples including gabapentin, pregabalin and duloxetine. However, you should always check with your clinical team before taking any of these medicines and do so only if prescribed them.

Medical staff can also give advice regarding appropriate foot care and footwear which can ease pain. This is important in order to prevent ulcers at pressure points and to protect areas of the foot that lack sensation.

Treatment of autonomic neuropathy symptoms

If you experience a drop in blood pressure and faintness on standing up from sitting or lying positions (this is also called orthostatic hypotension), elastic stockings may be recommended. Learning certain techniques for how to change position carefully from lying to sitting, sitting to standing and standing to walking may also help. Drug treatment can be helpful in some cases.

In general, you should take care to avoid dehydration – particularly if you are regularly vomiting and/or have diarrhoea. In these cases, you may be given fluid intravenously and anti‑nausea drugs may be necessary. However, it is still very important to ensure you don’t take on too much fluid – particularly if you have heart disease. You should ensure that you have clear guidance from your team on what you should be doing and when.

Some men experience erectile dysfunction as a symptom of their condition. If so, there are drugs that may help, and you should ask your doctor for options.

Treatment of autonomic neuropathy symptoms

If you experience a drop in blood pressure and faintness on standing up from sitting or lying positions (this is also called orthostatic hypotension), elastic stockings may be recommended. Learning certain techniques for how to change position carefully from lying to sitting, sitting to standing and standing to walking may also help. Drug treatment can be helpful in some cases.

In general, you should take care to avoid dehydration – particularly if you are regularly vomiting and/or have diarrhoea. In these cases, you may be given fluid intravenously and anti‑nausea drugs may be necessary. However, it is still very important to ensure you don’t take on too much fluid – particularly if you have heart disease. You should ensure that you have clear guidance from your team on what you should be doing and when.

Some men experience erectile dysfunction as a symptom of their condition. If so, there are drugs that may help, and you should ask your doctor for options.